Listed by "US News & World Report" magazine as one of America's Best Colleges, Clearwater Christian College is a faith-based liberal arts institution that is not denominationally affiliated with specific churches. With a strong emphasis on scholarship, discipleship, servant-leadership, and stewardship, the purpose of Clearwater Christian College is "to further the Great Commission in the lives of students by providing the environment and tools needed to develop godly character and pursue academic excellence and personal integrity." Clearwater Christian students are able to experience a 15-to-1 student-faculty ratio and choose from 26 different undergraduate academic majors in six academic divisions. Extracurricular activities include women's sports (basketball, volleyball and soccer), men's sports (baseball, basketball and soccer), and organizations such as the Pro Life Club, Greeks, Drama Club and Student Government. The college was founded in 1966 and is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and it offers students a variety of financial aid packages.
Clearwater is the location of one of nine Florida Career College campuses. This institution specializes in providing education for students to begin careers in cosmetology, health insurance billing and coding, medical assistance, network and Internet security administration, professional sales and customer service, and patient care. Founded in 1982, Florida Career College administrators state that "we understand that not everyone was a star student in high school," and consequently provide support for students of varying academic experiences. Classes are conducted during mornings, evenings and often Saturdays to meet the needs of working adults. To enroll, students must participate in a personal interview with admissions counselors, have obtained either a high school diploma or GED, or pass an "Ability to Benefit" exam given by the college. Financial aid and post-graduate career placement services are provided to students.
As Florida's first two-year college, founded in 1927, Saint Petersburg College is now one of 14 state colleges that offer bachelor's degrees in addition to associate degrees and vocational certification in over 60 different careers. The Clearwater Campus is one of nine campus locations throughout Florida. Programs at this campus that are not offered at other locations include architectural design technology, early college, legal assisting, and sign language interpretation. Students applying for admission are required to take a computerized placement test, to measure their comprehension in reading, writing and math. These test scores are used to determine academic placement. If a student has taken the SAT or other college-level coursework within the previous two years, this admission requirement may be waived.